Abnormal spontaneous movements in infants with repeated sleep apnoeas

Infants with repeated apnoea during sleep have received great attention for the assumed reason of being at-risk for sudden infant death. The present paper reports findings which indicate a different risk, namely for neurological impairment during infancy due to repeated hypoxia. A very strong correlation exists between the respiratory measurements based on a polygraphic all-night recording (PtcO2 drops and apnoea incidence and duration) and the impairment of the spontaneous movement repertoire in 114 infants, aged between 3 and 26 weeks. All infants have been video recorded at the same day as the registration of the sonogram. As there was a gradient of respiratory abnormalities from absent to severe, a similar gradient was present in the degree of motor deviations in these infants. A variety of qualitative changes in the spontaneous movement patterns was found which was similar to those previously described in cases with documented brain damage. These abnormalities could not be attributed to pre- and perinatal complications. It is concluded that infants with repeated sleep apnoea need special attention for prevention of neurological impairment irrespective of the supposed risk for sudden infant death.